Get all your news in one place.
100's of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
Salon
Salon
Science
Elizabeth Hlavinka

Trippy breathwork isn't for everyone

When Brendan Leier lay down for his first guided breathwork session over Zoom, he settled into a breathing rhythm, keeping a fast pace with the music the instructor was playing. As the session progressed over the next hour, he felt energy building up in his body, which the instructor invited him to release through a series of “om” chants. 

Still, the pressure kept rising until one moment Leier jolted up to holler at the top of his lungs — exerting so much force that he burst the blood vessels in his nose, staining his white beard red with blood.

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100's of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.